Vice President of People and Operations

at  The Humane League

WHO WE ARE

The Humane League (THL) is a global nonprofit ending the abuse of animals raised for food. THL fosters a high-energy culture of teamwork and mission-driven problem solving, and we have earned recognition as Top Charity from Animal Charity Evaluators for all of their rating periods. Over the past few years, we’ve grown to a staff of 100+ talented individuals dispersed across the country and around the world. At THL, how animals are treated in the food system is at the forefront of our everyday work. As such, many of our staff are vegan by personal choice, and all of our THL-hosted events offer fully vegan menus. We welcome all mission-aligned candidates to apply, no matter where you are in your journey to end the abuse of animals raised for food.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

The Humane League is seeking a Vice President of People and Operations to lead our Operations department, with a focus on HR and compliance. We want you because you are a dynamic leader with 10+ years of progressive HR experience, a successful track record in mission-driven organizations, and an unwavering commitment to THL’s mission to end the abuse of animals raised for food.
You are right for this role because empowering your team is at the heart of your leadership style. You view challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth. You prioritize open, clear, and transparent communication, welcoming diverse perspectives and fostering a strong sense of agency. With genuine care for individual development, you engage in honest conversations that promote personal and professional growth, ensuring that each team member is able to thrive in their role. You model and encourage accountability, providing constructive feedback with clarity and kindness and addressing issues directly to cultivate a culture of trust and candor.
As VP of People and Operations, you play a crucial role in developing and implementing effective HR systems, policies, and procedures, building operational resilience. You serve as a collaborative business partner to the Senior Leadership Team and others in the organization, ensuring that the Operations department effectively meets their needs and providing support on HR matters such as talent management strategy, organizational design, and change management. You work to align the organization’s operational functions with its long-term strategy and goals, fostering a cohesive and high-performance work environment.
This position reports directly to the Executive Vice President. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will collaborate closely with our General Counsel and other Vice Presidents to meet organizational goals and priorities.
This is a full-time, remote position. This position requires domestic and international travel, equivalent to 2 or more week-long trips per year. Because THL is a global organization, you may be required to work hours outside of 9am - 5pm, depending on your time zone.
We are only able to consider applicants who reside in the United States and possess United States work authorization.
This position will be open until filled, with a priority deadline of Wednesday, November 13th. Applications received after that date will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. If you are experiencing technical issues, please contact careers@thehumaneleague.org prior to the deadline. Please submit applications and all supporting documents in English. All application questions and materials need to be submitted here through the application submission, we do not accept applications through our careers email.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Leadership & Management: 10+ years of progressive experience in values-driven HR roles and 7+ years of people management experience, including significant nonprofit experience. Proven ability to inspire staff and cultivate a culture of inclusion and accountability. Excels at building high-performing teams through effective recruitment, coaching, and empowerment.
• Strategic Thinking: Demonstrates advanced strategic thinking by developing and implementing transformative HR strategies that drive organizational success and align with broader organizational goals, vision, and culture.
• Verbal & Written Communication: Articulates the vision and goals of the Operations department, ensuring clear communication of strategic priorities to all levels of the organization and fostering a culture of open dialogue and feedback. Adept at writing HR policies, including procedures for hiring and workplace complaints. Able to communicate changes and navigate complex topics with sensitivity, providing appropriate context and maintaining confidentiality when necessary.
• Interpersonal Skills: Leads organizational culture initiatives and addresses executive-level interpersonal challenges. Leads by example, promoting empathy as a fundamental component of organizational relationships and partnerships through deep listening skills and the ability to connect across differences.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Excels in addressing challenges through cross-functional collaboration and strategic thinking. Able to identify the root of issues and effectively resolve conflicts, ensuring solutions align with organizational values and goals.
• Data Analysis: Oversees high-level data analysis efforts, capitalizing on data-driven insights to drive strategic decisions and improve employee experiences.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Leads initiatives that enhance collaboration at the senior level, forming and maintaining strategic alliances and partnerships. Drives collaborative efforts to achieve organizational objectives and enhance overall performance, with expert skills in fostering mutual understanding and trust within the organization.
• Adaptability, Initiative & Proactivity: Drives organizational adaptation and fosters innovation, leading the organization through changes and ambiguity using creative strategies. Sets standards for proactive leadership while inspiring and motivating business units to take on a proactive mindset.
• Executive Presence: Leads initiatives to enhance the executive-level image of the organization. Conveys authority and engages effectively with stakeholders, inspiring confidence through leadership and presence in high-profile interactions.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Oversee and lead large-scale internal system and process optimization for talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, learning and development, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, and global HR functions, with a focus on equity, compliance, and employee experience.
• Cultivate a high-accountability environment where employees feel empowered, trusted, and effective in their roles, fostering a culture of agency and mutual understanding. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, establish and promote high standards for team dynamics and collaboration across the organization.
• Coach and inspire a team of senior leaders, including Directors of the People, Operations, IT, and Finance teams, contributing to the organization’s strategic vision and ensuring divisional activities support overall objectives. Facilitate collaboration across the Operations department.
• Create and implement a comprehensive HR agenda that aligns with THL’s people and culture vision while leveraging data analysis to inform HR strategies and decisions.
• Lead the development of THL’s employee handbook and other organizational policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with best practices for both US staff and global workers. Integrate international standards into operational practices and prioritize consistency and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Lead organizational change and crisis management initiatives, ensuring effective response strategies are in place. Utilize strategic thinking to address challenges through cross-functional collaboration.
• Oversee executive-level financial decisions, managing large-scale budgets and ensuring effective financial governance across the Operations department.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant international, federal, and state laws and ensure that THL’s HR practices adhere to these laws. Oversee organizational compliance concerning charitable regulations and other operational needs.
• In addition to the above essential job duties, other duties may be assigned as business needs arise. These may include non-essential, marginal job duties.